Validating translations of externalized content for inclusion in an application

ABSTRACT

An approach is provided for validating translated files for inclusion in an application being developed. Content in a natural language is translated into another language and received as a first translation in a first translated file. Based on an error condition indicated by simulations of loading and presenting the first translation in a user interface of the application, a syntax error that causes the error condition is determined. The syntax error can include a lack of a match between a key and exactly one value, a missing key, or a mismatch of placeholders in the first translated file. Responsive to a receipt of a second translation of the content that includes the correction of the syntax error, and based on simulations of loading and presenting the second translation in the interface not indicating the error condition, the second translation is presented at runtime without causing the application to stop running.

This application is a continuation application claiming priority to Ser.No. 14/520,941 filed Oct. 22, 2014 which is a continuation applicationclaiming priority to Ser. No. 12/816,587 filed Jun. 16, 2010, now U.S.Pat. No. 8,910,122 issued Dec. 9, 2014.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to data processing techniques forfacilitating software application development, and more particularly toa technique for statically and dynamically validating translated filesto be included in an application being developed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the development of internationalized software applications,translation of the user interface content is a tedious, error-prone, andlengthy process. Known complex software applications use a number ofmodules or plug-ins (e.g., over 50 modules or plug-ins) to define thefunction and behavior specific to an application. Each module or plug-inhas at least one language-dependent, translatable file. A help plug-infor an application may contain one translatable file for each helptopic, which can easily exceed 100 topics (i.e., 100 translatable files)for a large application. Preparing a large number of translatable files(i.e., exported files) for export and translation into multiplelanguages and the handling of returned translated files (i.e., importedfiles) is aggravated because one exported file results in multipleimported files (i.e., one imported file for each of the multiplelanguages). Typically, the exported file to imported file ratio is 1:9or 1:14. Further, the process of importing the translated files is madedifficult by specific file placement requirements dictated by theframework of the application being developed. Still further, knownautomated translation systems that receive and translate thetranslatable files may introduce hard-to-find formatting and/or syntaxerrors into the files themselves, where the errors may cause theapplication to fail and may not be apparent until runtime. Thus, thereexists a need to overcome at least one of the preceding deficiencies andlimitations of the related art.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of validatingtranslated files for inclusion in an application being developed. Themethod comprises:

a computer system sending a single translation package having aplurality of translatable files in a single base language to a pluralityof other computer systems for translation into a plurality of languagesother than the base language, wherein the translatable files includeexternalized content that is external to code of the application beingdeveloped;

the computer system receiving a plurality of translated files in theplurality of languages, wherein the plurality of translated files is aresult of translations of the translation package by the plurality ofother computer systems, and wherein the translations provide one or moreerrors in the plurality of translated files;

a processor of the computer system determining the one or more errors inthe plurality of translated files by statically validating eachtranslated file of the plurality of translated files based on acomparison of the plurality of translatable files to the plurality oftranslated files and by dynamically validating each translated file ofthe plurality of translated files based on a simulation of how a userinterface of the application presents the externalized content, whereinthe simulation indicates syntax errors in the plurality of translatedfiles without including a presentation of the externalized content bythe user interface;

subsequent to statically and dynamically validating, the computer systemreceiving a modification of the plurality of translated files, whereinthe modification eliminates the one or more errors; and

the computer system providing the modification of the plurality oftranslated files for presentation of the externalized content by theuser interface of the application.

A system, program product and process for supporting computinginfrastructure corresponding to the above-summarized method are alsodescribed and claimed herein.

Embodiments of the present invention manage the process of extractingexternalized content for a base application to be sent to multipletranslation centers for translation and re-importing the translatedresults into the base application while ensuring the integrity of theresults. Techniques disclosed herein reduce costs and labor timeinvolved in detecting errors in translated files. The combination ofstatic and dynamic validation disclosed herein allows teams (e.g.,development or translation teams) to intercept syntax (i.e., mechanicaltranslation) errors in translated files early in the applicationdevelopment process and without a need for integrating the translationsinto the application and manually traversing over all user interfacescreens to ensure proper display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for validating translatedexternalized content files for inclusion in an application, inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A-2B depict a flowchart of a process for validating translatedexternalized content files for inclusion in an application, inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an example of a list of translated files renamed in theprocess of FIGS. 2A-2B, in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 4A-4B depict an example of a file structure generated in theprocess of FIGS. 2A-2B, where the file structure has a language folderthat includes help system specific files, in accordance with embodimentsof the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a static validation process included in theprocess of FIGS. 2A-2B, in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a dynamic validation process included in theprocess of FIGS. 2A-2B, in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a computer system that is included in thesystem of FIG. 1 and that implements the processes of FIGS. 2A-2B, FIG.5 and FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Overview

Embodiments of the present invention provide a language translationtechnique for the content of a user interface of a software application.The language translation technique may include an automated export oftranslatable files that include the content of the user interface and anautomated aggregation of the exported translatable files into atranslation package. The translation package may be prepared fortranslation at multiple translation centers. The translatable files inthe translation package are translated into multiple sets of translatedfiles, each set including the content of the user interface translatedinto a corresponding language of multiple languages. The resultingtranslated files may be prepared for storage in corresponding places ina file structure. Each stored translated file may be tested to detectwhether the translated file includes any mechanical translation errorsthat damage the integrity of the translated file.

As used herein, a language described in relation to content or a filebeing translated, or content or a file resulting from a translation is anatural language. A natural language is a language for human-to-humancommunication that arises in an unpremeditated fashion as a result of aninnate facility for language possessed by the human intellect. A naturallanguage may be, for example, a national language, national languagevariant, standard language or standard dialect. A natural language isdistinguished from constructed languages and formal languages, such ascomputer programming languages and languages used in the study of formallogic. In one embodiment, a language being translated or resulting froma translation may be identified by a name of a language (e.g., a name ofa national language). If the language being translated or resulting froma translation is a language variety (e.g., dialect), then the languagemay be identified by a name of a language and further identified eitherby a name of a country or by a name of a country and a name of a regionof the country.

In one embodiment, the aforementioned content of the user interface ofthe software application is included in externalized content. As usedherein, externalized content is defined as content that is external tosource code of a software application and that is queried at runtimeusing a lookup method. Externalized content may be stored in, forexample, property files, configuration (e.g., INI) files, ExtensibleMarkup Language (XML) documents, databases, etc. As used herein, aproperty file is defined as a computer file that includes a list ofkey-value pairs. The content of the user interface of the softwareapplication is also referred to herein as user interface content.

System for Validating Translated Files

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for validating translatedexternalized content files (a.k.a. translatable files) for inclusion inan application, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.A system 100 includes a computer system 102 and multiple computersystems 104-1, . . . , 104-N for multiple translation centers 1, . . . ,N. Computer systems 104-1, . . . , 104-N are in communication with andexchange files with computer system 102 via a network 106. Computersystem 102 runs program code that may include a translation package tool108, a file management tool 110 and a validator 112. Translation packagetool 108 receives multiple translatable files 114. Each translatablefile 114 includes externalized content to be presented by a userinterface of a software application being developed. Translation packagetool 108 aggregates translatable files 114 into a translation package.The translatable files 114 in the translation package includeexternalized content that is expressed in a single language (i.e., thebase language).

Via network 106, translation package tool 108 sends the same translationpackage to computer systems 104-1, . . . , 104-N managed by translationcenters 1, . . . , N, respectively. Each of the translation centers 1, .. . , N translates the externalized content included in the translationpackage into a language corresponding to the translation center. Vianetwork 106, file management tool 110 receives translated files fromcomputer systems 104-1, . . . , 104-N. Each translated file includes atranslation of the externalized content that was generated by acorresponding translation center. File management tool 110 renames thetranslated files to prepare the files for storage in a file structure.After being stored in the file structure, validator 112 initiates avalidation process that detects and corrects any mechanical translationerrors in the translated files. Validator 112 generates a validationreport 116 that lists the errors detected in the translated files.Additional descriptions of the functionality of components of system 100are presented below in the discussions of FIGS. 2A-2B, FIG. 5 and FIG.6.

Process for Validating Translated Files

FIGS. 2A-2B depict a flowchart of a process for validating translatedexternalized content files for inclusion in an application in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention. The process for validatingtranslated externalized content files for inclusion in a softwareapplication starts at step 200 in FIG. 2A, which is prior to the buildand deployment of the software application. In step 202, translationpackage tool 108 (see FIG. 1) generates a translation package byaggregating multiple translatable files 114 (see FIG. 1) that includeuser interface content expressed in a single base language.

In one embodiment, the user interface content is included inexternalized content to be displayed and/or otherwise presented by theuser interface of the software application being developed. Hereinafter,the software application being developed is referred to as “theapplication.”

In one embodiment, prior to generating the translation package, step 202includes exporting each translatable file 114 (see FIG. 1) from theindividual development environment (IDE). In another embodiment, priorto generating the translation package, step 202 includes exporting eachtranslatable file 114 (see FIG. 1) from the Source Code Repository(SCR).

In step 204, translation package tool 108 (see FIG. 1) validates eachtranslatable file 114 (see FIG. 1) in the translation package bydetermining whether each translatable file conforms to syntax rules ofthe translation centers (e.g., syntax rules of translation systemsrunning on computer systems 104-1, . . . , 104-N in FIG. 1). Forexample, step 204 includes using CHKPII or a similar validation tool todetect one or more errors related to the syntax rules of the translationcenters.

In step 206, translation package tool 108 (see FIG. 1) corrects one ormore errors detected in the validation step performed in step 204. Instep 208, translation package tool 108 (see FIG. 1) sends the sametranslation package to computer systems 104-1, . . . , 104-N (see FIG.1), which are utilized by multiple translation centers. In oneembodiment, step 208 includes an application development team usingcomputer system 102 (see FIG. 1) sending the translation package totranslation teams utilizing computer systems 104-1, . . . , 104-N, whereeach translation team is responsible for translating the user interfacecontent in the translation package into one or more languages and/or oneor more variations of a language.

After step 208 and prior to step 210, the multiple translation centersreceive the translation package sent in step 208 and translate thetranslatable files in the translation package into sets of translatedfiles. Each set of translated files is in a corresponding language of aplurality of languages. The plurality of languages may includevariations of a language based on a country and/or a region of acountry. For example, the plurality of languages may include a firstvariation of English associated with the United Kingdom and a secondvariation of English associated with the United States.

Each translated file resulting from a translation of a translatable fileby a translation center includes the externalized content translatedinto a corresponding language.

In one embodiment, computer systems 104-1, . . . , 104-N (see FIG. 1)automatically translate the translatable files 114 (see FIG. 1) in thetranslation package and store the resulting translations in the sets oftranslated files.

In step 210, file management tool 110 (see FIG. 1) receives the sets oftranslated files that each result from a translation center translatingthe translatable files in the translation package into a correspondinglanguage.

In step 212, file management tool 110 (see FIG. 1) reformats eachtranslated file received in step 210 to a form required by thearchitecture of the application. In step 214, file management tool 110(see FIG. 1) renames each translated file received in step 210 with aunique file name indicating the language of the translation. Thetranslation centers have the option of translating the translatablefiles to a level more detailed than the level of only a language. As oneexample, a translation center may translate a translatable file to thelevel of a language and a country (i.e., translate according to rules ofa country-based variation of a language). As another example, atranslation center may translate a translatable file to the level of alanguage, country and a region of the country (i.e., translate accordingto rules of a variation of a language, where the variation is based on acountry and a region of that country).

In step 216, file management tool 110 (see FIG. 1) generates a filestructure that includes locations for storing translated files accordingto a language, and according to a country and region associated with avariety of the language. In one embodiment the generated file structureincludes natural language (NL) folders for each language of theplurality of languages to which the translation centers translate thetranslatable files. The generated file structure optionally includes aNL folder for a country if the translation by the translation centerassociated with the country is a translation to a variety of a language,where the variety is based on the country. Further, the generated filestructure optionally includes a NL folder for a region of a country ifthe translation by the translation center associated with the region isa translation to a variety of a language, where the variety is based onthe country and the region of the country.

After step 216, the process of validating translated files continueswith step 218 in FIG. 2B. In step 218, file management tool 110 (seeFIG. 1) stores the translated files in portions of the file structurethat correspond to the translated files. In one embodiment, step 218stores the translated files received in step 210 (see FIG. 2A) in NLfolders whose names indicate the language of the translated file andoptionally indicate either the country or the country and the regionassociated with the translated file.

After step 218 and prior to step 220, validator 112 (see FIG. 1)receives the translated files from file management tool 110 (see FIG.1). In step 220, validator 112 (see FIG. 1) determines whether or not afirst set of one or more errors exists in the translated files bystatically validating each translated file based on a comparison of thetranslatable files to the translated files that correspond thereto. Theaforementioned first set of one or more errors are translation errorsthat damage the integrity of the translated file. Additional descriptionof the process of statically validating the translated files in step 220is presented below relative to the discussion of FIG. 5.

In step 222, validator 112 (see FIG. 1) determines whether or not asecond set of one or more errors exists in the translated files bydynamically validating each translated file based on a simulation of howthe user interface of the application presents the externalized content.The simulation on which the dynamic validation is based indicates syntaxerrors (i.e., mechanical translation errors) in the translated fileswithout including or requiring a display or other presentation of theexternalized content by the user interface. The aforementioned secondset of one or more errors are mechanical translation errors that damagethe integrity of the translated file. Additional description of thedynamic validation process in step 222 is presented below relative tothe discussion of FIG. 6.

In one embodiment, step 220 and/or step 222 determines that at least oneerror exists in the translated files (i.e., step 220 determines thefirst set of one or more errors exists in the translated files and/orstep 222 determines the second set of one or more errors exists in thetranslated files).

The validation provided by steps 220 and 222 may be performed on thetranslated files as a group rather than requiring a review of aresultant user interface for each language in the translations todetermine if the appropriate translated content is displaying properly.

In step 224, validator 112 (see FIG. 1) generates one or more validationreports 116 (see FIG. 1). Each validation report 116 (see FIG. 1) listsor otherwise identifies the error(s) determined for a set of translatedfiles by the static and dynamic validations that are performed in step220 and step 222, respectively. In one embodiment, the validation report116 (see FIG. 1) identifies location(s) in the set of translated filesat which error(s) determined in steps 220 and 222 occur. In oneembodiment, the validation report 116 (see FIG. 1) for a set oftranslated files identifies one or more error messages that the userinterface of the application would display or otherwise present if theapplication were to run using the set of translated files withoutcorrecting the error(s) determined for the set of translated files insteps 220 and 222.

In step 226, if one or more errors are detected in a set of translatedfiles in step 220 and/or step 222, computer system 102 (see FIG. 1)sends information to the computer system (i.e., computer system 104-1, .. . or 104-N in FIG. 1) managed by the translation center thattranslated the set of translated files. The information sent in step 226includes the set of translated files that include the detected error(s),the validation report 116 (see FIG. 1) for the set of translated files,and the original translatable files that were included in thetranslation package generated in step 202 (see FIG. 2A). Step 226 sendsthe aforementioned information to the particular translation center thatwas responsible for generating the set of translated files.

If error(s) are detected in step 220 and/or step 222 in one or moreother set(s) of translated files, then step 226 is repeated to send theset(s) of translated files, the validation report(s), and the originaltranslatable files to the computer system(s) managed by the translationcenter(s) that translated the other set(s) of translated files.

After step 226 and prior to step 228, translation team(s) at thetranslation center(s) that receive the validation report(s) sent in step226 analyze and correct the error(s) detected in step 220 and/or step222, thereby generating modification(s) of the set(s) of translatedfiles that eliminate the detected error(s). In step 228, after theerror(s) are analyzed and corrected at the translation center(s), filemanagement tool 110 (see FIG. 1) receives the modification(s) of theset(s) of translated files (a.k.a. set(s) of modified translated files)that eliminate the error(s) detected in step 220 and/or step 222.

In step 230, steps 218, 220 and 222 are repeated for the set(s) ofmodified translated files. Using the renamed file names (see step 214 inFIG. 2A), file management tool 110 (see FIG. 1) stores the set(s) ofmodified translated files in corresponding portions of the filestructure generated in step 216 (see FIG. 2A). For example, the filemanagement tool stores a set of modified translated files in a NL folderwhose name indicates the language of the user interface content includedin the set of modified translated files. After being stored in the filestructure, step 230 also includes the content being statically anddynamically validated to determine whether any errors exist in themodified translated files. If no other error is detected by the staticand dynamic validation, then step 230 is completed. If any errors aredetected by the static and dynamic validation, then process loops back(not shown) to step 224 and repeats until no other error is detected bythe static and dynamic validation.

In step 232, at runtime of the application, the user interface of theapplication displays the externalized content included in the set(s) ofmodified translated files without causing error conditions such ascausing the application to fail. The process of FIGS. 2A-2B ends at step234.

FIG. 3 is an example of a list of translated files renamed in theprocess of FIGS. 2A-2B, in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention. An example 300 includes sample names of translated files thatresult from the renaming performed in step 214 of FIG. 2A.

As one example, plugin_de.properties and application_de.properties inlines 1 and 2 of example 300 are names of translated files that are theresult of renaming translated files that originally had the base namesof plugin.properties and application.properties, respectively, when thetranslated files were received in step 210 (see FIG. 2A) from atranslation center that is responsible for translating user interfacecontent into German. In this case, the renaming performed in step 214(see FIG. 2A) added a language indicator “de” to the base names (i.e.,by adding “_de” to indicate that the user interface content in thetranslated files had been translated into the German language by thetranslation center that is responsible for translating user interfacecontent into German.

As another example, plugin_pt_BR.properties andapplication_pt_BR.properties in lines 21 and 22 of example 300 are namesof translated files that are the result of renaming translated filesthat originally had the base names of plugin.properties andapplication.properties, respectively, when the translated files werereceived in step 210 (see FIG. 2A) from a translation center that isresponsible for translating user interface content into the variety ofthe Portuguese language that is a standard language in the country ofBrazil. In this case, the renaming performed in step 214 (see FIG. 2A)added “_pt_BR” to the base names to indicate that the translated fileshad been translated into a variety of Portuguese (i.e., indicated by thelanguage indicator “pt”) and the variety of Portuguese is standard inBrazil (i.e., indicated by the country indicator “BR”).

Continuing the example described above relative to the renamedtranslated files in FIG. 3, step 216 (see FIG. 2A) creates a filestructure having a NL1 Fragment folder that includes language varietiesof translations of the plugin.properties file. After translating theapplication.properties file to German and renaming the translated fileto application_de.properties (see FIG. 3), the application_de.propertiesis stored in a NL1 Fragment source folder (see step 218 in FIG. 2B). Thefolder nl/de (i.e., German) folder is created as part of the filestructure generated in step 216 (see FIG. 2A) with the languageindicator (i.e., “de”) that had also been used as a language indicatorin the renaming process of step 214 (see FIG. 2A).

As another example, if the translated file had been renamed in step 214(see FIG. 2A) with a name that includes language, country and regionindicators, then the name of the folder created in step 216 (see FIG.2A) also includes the language, country and region indicators.

The language-specific folders created in the file structure generated instep 216 (see FIG. 2A) segregate versions of non-properties files (see,e.g., plugin.xml in FIG. 4A) as translations are added to the filestructure over time.

FIGS. 4A-4B depict an example 400-1, 400-2 of a file structure generatedin the process of FIGS. 2A-2B, where the file structure has languagefolders that include help system specific files, in accordance withembodiments of the present invention. As shown in example 400-1 (seeFIG. 4A) and 400-2 (see FIG. 4B), help system specific files (e.g.,toc_topic1.xml and help_topic1.html) for multiple locales areincorporated into separate folders corresponding to the locales in thehelp plug-in depicted in FIGS. 4A-4B. The separate folders are part ofthe file structure generated in step 216 (see FIG. 2A). For instance,toc_topic1.xml for the French Canadian locale is stored in a foldernamed nl/fr/CA, where “fr” in the folder name indicates the languageFrench and CA indicates Canada.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a static validation process included in theprocess of FIGS. 2A-2B, in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention. The process of FIG. 5 is included in step 220 (see FIG. 2B)and starts at step 500. In step 502, validator 112 (see FIG. 1) checksfor any entries in the original, base language translatable files (i.e.,translatable files 114 in FIG. 1) that are not in a set of translatedfiles received in step 210 (see FIG. 2A). If the check in step 502 findsone or more entries in the translatable files 114 (see FIG. 1) that arenot in the set of translated files, then the validator detects one ormore errors in the one or more entries. If the check in step 502 findsthat all entries in the translatable files are in the set of translatedfiles, then no errors are detected based on step 502.

A typical translation error detected by step 502 is an exclusion of anentry in the set of translated files, where the entry is included in theoriginal translatable files 114 (see FIG. 1). In an example with aproperty file, such an error is in the form of an omission of a keywhose value contains specific text.

In step 504, validator 112 (see FIG. 1) checks for any entries in theset of translated files that are not in the original, base languagetranslatable files. If the check in step 504 finds one or more entriesin the set of translated files that are not in the translatable files114 (see FIG. 1), then the validator detects one or more errors in theone or more entries in the translated files. If the check in step 504finds that all entries in the translated files are in the translatablefiles 114 (see FIG. 1), then no errors are detected based on step 504.

In one embodiment, step 504 also includes the validator 112 (see FIG. 1)checking whether a first count of the number of keys in the translatablefiles 114 (see FIG. 1) matches a second count of the number of keys inthe set of translated files. An error is detected if the first countdoes not match the second count.

Many file-based content externalization methods (e.g., property files,INI files, etc.) allow long values to wrap around on wrapped lines sothat a first line of a value wraps around to one or more subsequentlines of the value by “escaping” the end-of-line character (e.g., byinserting a “\” character at the end of a line to indicate to theruntime environment that the line does not end at the “\” character butrather continues to the next line). One type of error detected in step504 is a translation error that mistakenly breaks wrapped lines insteadof detecting the wrapped lines by detecting the escape of theend-of-line character. The translation error that breaks wrapped linesmay be caused by a translator that interrupts the flow of wrapped linesby either removing end-of-line escape characters or by inserting one ormore empty lines between wrapped components. As one example, considerthe following property key-value in which the value of propertyKey1 ison a line that wraps to the second and third lines, as indicated by the“\” character at the end of the first and second lines:

-   -   propertyKey1=This is a line that will wrap to enhance reading \    -   but the translation may not detect the line wrap and will        translate \    -   the second and third lines of this example as unique entries.    -   propertyKey2=This is the second entry.

As the translation in the example above mistakenly considers the wrappedlines (i.e., the second and third lines) as entries separate from theentry on the first line, the resulting set of translated files includesentries that are not included in the original translatable files 114(see FIG. 1). For this example, step 504 detects errors related to theseparate entries mistakenly detected on the second and third lines,which have no corresponding entries in the translatable files 114 (seeFIG. 1).

In step 506, validator 112 (see FIG. 1) parses each translated file in aset of translated files to check whether every key is matched with onlya single value, and conversely whether every value on every line of thetranslated files is associated with exactly a single key. If the checkin step 506 finds one or more keys that are not each matched withexactly a single value and/or finds one or more values on one or morelines of the translated files that are each not associated with exactlya single key, then the validator detects one or more errors based on theone or more keys and/or the one or more values. If the check in step 506finds that each key in the set of translated files is matched withexactly a single value and finds that each value in the set oftranslated files is associated with exactly one key, then no errors aredetected based on step 506.

Certain usage of property files supports variable substitution, wherethe value of a property includes a placeholder for another value that isfilled in during runtime. For example:

-   -   Value=this is a sample {0} variable substitution {1} property

The run time environment replaces the {0} and {1} placeholders in theexample presented above with actual values as supplied by the code. Instep 508, validator 112 (see FIG. 1) checks whether placeholder(s) inthe set of translated files have corresponding placeholder(s) in theoriginal, base language translatable files 114 (see FIG. 1). In oneembodiment, the check in step 508 does not require the order ofplaceholders in the set of translated files to match the order ofplaceholders in the translatable files 114 (see FIG. 1).

If the check in step 508 finds one or more placeholders in thetranslated files that do not have corresponding placeholders in thetranslatable files, then the validator 112 (see FIG. 1) detects one ormore errors in the one or more entries of the translated files thatinclude the one or more placeholders. If the check in step 508 findsthat all placeholders in the translated files have corresponding entriesin the translatable files, then no errors are detected based on step508. The process of FIG. 5 ends at step 510.

In one embodiment, at least one error in the set of translated files isdetected based on the checks in steps 502, 504, 506 and 508.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a dynamic validation process included in theprocess of FIGS. 2A-2B, in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention. The process of FIG. 6 is included in step 222 (see FIG. 2B)and starts at step 600. In step 602, validator 112 (see FIG. 1)dynamically loads externalized content included in the translated filesusing code that simulates how the externalized content is loaded intoand presented by the user interface of the application at runtime, butwithout actually displaying or otherwise presenting the externalizedcontent in the user interface. Since step 602 runs in a simulatedenvironment, errors of any level of severity may be intercepted whileloading a particular set of content (see step 604), and the content inquestion may be flagged for manual observation (see step 606).

In step 604, validator 112 (see FIG. 1) checks whether the simulation instep 602 intercepts error(s) that would cause the application to fail atruntime or cause improper processing of the externalized content (i.e.,cause an error condition) by downstream programming logic. If error(s)are intercepted by the simulation, then the validator 112 (see FIG. 1)detects one or more syntax errors (i.e., one or more mechanicaltranslation errors) in the entries in the set of translated files. If noerrors are intercepted by the simulation, then the validator 112 (seeFIG. 1) determines the validity of the mechanical structure (i.e.,syntax) of the value of every key in the set of translated files. In oneembodiment, step 604 determines that at least one error is interceptedby the simulation.

In step 606, validator 112 (see FIG. 1) flags the externalized contentassociated with syntax error(s) identified in step 604 for guiding amanual review and analysis of the syntax error(s).

In an optional step 608, validator 112 (see FIG. 1) presents a GUI thatplaces the original base language translatable files on a display inproximity to corresponding translated files in the set of translatedfiles. The proximate display of the translatable files and correspondingtranslated files facilitates a manual review that identifies and locatesother error(s) that are not identified by the aforementioned simulation.In an optional step 610, computer system 102 (see FIG. 1) receives andstores a user's identification of the aforementioned other error(s) viathe GUI presented in optional step 608. The process of FIG. 6 ends atstep 612.

In one embodiment, at least one error in the set of translated files isdetected based on the checks in steps 502, 504, 506 and 508 in FIG. 5and based on the simulation in step 602 in FIG. 6.

Errors can result from improper modifications to formatting tokens inthe externalized content. Most programming environments with rich UserInterface allow the formatting of its content on the code as well as theexternalized content level. Traditional methods for verifying themechanical structure of an entity involve comparing the mechanicalstructure against the definition of the rules allowed in that context(i.e., similar to how a compiler verifies the syntax of a program in aparticular programming language). However, the dynamic validationanalysis in the process of FIG. 6 loads the content in a fashion similarto how the application does. The simulation allows independence of thesyntax rules of the properties in question and provides the validator112 (see FIG. 1) with the ability to intercept errors regardless ofwhether they are rich text formatting violations or application/languagespecific violations. The dynamic validation in the process of FIG. 6breaks this dependency and ensures the interception of all unintendedformat changes.

Certain properties (i.e., keys) can be written with “directives” thatinstruct the validation process on how content should be loaded. Forexample, a long string of content may be broken into multiple propertiesintended to be reconstructed as one stream of content at runtime. Thisinstruction of how content should be loaded also includes “variablesubstitution” which inserts, at runtime, values constructed by the code.For example, the syntax of a particular property can be intentionallyleft as incomplete (e.g. an opening “<” token without its closing “/>”counterpart) because the application will append another property to theincomplete property at runtime, where the appended other property isexpected to include the closing counterpart token.

Computer System

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a computer system that is included in thesystem of FIG. 1 and that implements the processes of FIGS. 2A-2B, FIG.5 and FIG. 6. Computer system 102 generally comprises a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 702, a memory 704, an I/O interface 706, and a bus708. Further, computer system 102 is coupled to I/O devices 710 and acomputer data storage unit 712. CPU 702 performs computation and controlfunctions of computer system 102. CPU 702 may comprise a singleprocessing unit, or be distributed across one or more processing unitsin one or more locations (e.g., on a client and server).

Memory 704 may comprise any known computer readable storage medium,which is described below. In one embodiment, cache memory elements ofmemory 704 provide temporary storage of at least some program code(e.g., program code 108, 110, 112) in order to reduce the number oftimes code must be retrieved from bulk storage while instructions of theprogram code are carried out. Moreover, similar to CPU 702, memory 704may reside at a single physical location, comprising one or more typesof data storage, or be distributed across a plurality of physicalsystems in various forms. Further, memory 704 can include datadistributed across, for example, a local area network (LAN) or a widearea network (WAN).

I/O interface 706 comprises any system for exchanging information to orfrom an external source. I/O devices 710 comprise any known type ofexternal device, including a display device (e.g., monitor), keyboard,mouse, printer, speakers, handheld device, facsimile, etc. Bus 708provides a communication link between each of the components in computersystem 102, and may comprise any type of transmission link, includingelectrical, optical, wireless, etc.

I/O interface 706 also allows computer system 102 to store and retrieveinformation (e.g., data or program instructions such as program code108, 110, 112) from an auxiliary storage device such as computer datastorage unit 712 or another computer data storage unit (not shown).Computer data storage unit 712 may comprise any known computer readablestorage medium, which is described below. For example, computer datastorage unit 712 may be a non-volatile data storage device, such as amagnetic disk drive (i.e., hard disk drive) or an optical disc drive(e.g., a CD-ROM drive which receives a CD-ROM disk).

Memory 704 may store computer program code 108, 110, 112 that providesthe logic for validating translated files for inclusion in anapplication being developed, which is included in the process in FIGS.2A-2B, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. Further, memory 704 may include other systemsnot shown in FIG. 7, such as an operating system (e.g., Linux) that runson CPU 702 and provides control of various components within and/orconnected to computer system 102.

Storage unit 712 and/or one or more other computer data storage units(not shown) that are coupled to computer system 102 may storetranslatable files 114 (see FIG. 1), sets of translated files receivedin step 210 (see FIG. 2A), and validation report(s) 116 (see FIG. 1).

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present inventionmay be embodied as a system, method or computer program product.Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of anentirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (includingfirmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodimentcombining software and hardware aspects that may all generally bereferred to herein as a “module” or “system” (e.g., system 100 in FIG. 1or computer system 102). Furthermore, an embodiment of the presentinvention may take the form of a computer program product embodied inone or more computer readable medium(s) (e.g., memory 704 or computerdata storage unit 712) having computer readable program code (e.g.,program code 108, 110, 112) embodied or stored thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) (e.g., memory704 and storage unit 712) may be utilized. The computer readable mediummay be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storagemedium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but notlimited to, an electronic, magnetic, electromagnetic, or semiconductorsystem, apparatus, device or any suitable combination of the foregoing.A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer-readablestorage medium includes: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, amagnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium maybe any tangible medium that can contain or store a program (e.g.,program 108, 110, 112) for use by or in connection with a system,apparatus, or device for carrying out instructions. Each of the terms“computer readable storage medium,” “compute readable storage device,”and “computer readable, tangible storage device” does not mean atransitory signal per se or a signal propagation medium.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electromagnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with asystem, apparatus, or device for carrying out instructions.

Program code (e.g., program code 108, 110, 112) embodied on a computerreadable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium,including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable,RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Computer program code (e.g., program code 108, 110, 112) for carryingout operations for aspects of the present invention may be written inany combination of one or more programming languages, including anobject oriented programming language such as Java®, Smalltalk, C++ orthe like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the“C” programming language or similar programming languages. Instructionsof the program code may be carried out entirely on a user's computer,partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partlyon the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely onthe remote computer or server, where the aforementioned user's computer,remote computer and server may be, for example, computer system 102 oranother computer system (not shown) having components analogous to thecomponents of computer system 102 included in FIG. 7. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network (not shown), including a LAN or a WAN, orthe connection may be made to an external computer (e.g., through theInternet using an Internet Service Provider).

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations (e.g., FIGS. 2A-2B) and/or block diagrams ofmethods, apparatus (systems) (e.g., FIG. 1 and FIG. 7), and computerprogram products according to embodiments of the invention. It will beunderstood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or blockdiagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrationsand/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer programinstructions (e.g., program code 108, 110, 112). These computer programinstructions may be provided to a processor (e.g., CPU 702) of a generalpurpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions,which are carried out via the processor of the computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus, create means for implementingthe functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium (e.g., memory 704 or computer data storage unit 712)that can direct a computer (e.g., computer system 102), otherprogrammable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function ina particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computerreadable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructionswhich implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer(e.g., computer system 102), other programmable data processingapparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to beperformed on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or otherdevices to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions which are carried out on the computer, other programmableapparatus, or other devices provide processes for implementing thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

Any of the components of an embodiment of the present invention can bedeployed, managed, serviced, etc. by a service provider that offers todeploy or integrate computing infrastructure with respect to the processof validating translated files for inclusion in an application beingdeveloped. Thus, an embodiment of the present invention discloses aprocess for supporting computer infrastructure, comprising integrating,hosting, maintaining and deploying computer-readable code (e.g., programcode 108, 110, 112) into a computer system (e.g., computer system 102),wherein the code in combination with the computer system is capable ofperforming a process of validating translated files for inclusion in anapplication being developed.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a business method thatperforms the process steps of the invention on a subscription,advertising and/or fee basis. That is, a service provider, such as aSolution Integrator, can offer to create, maintain, support, etc. aprocess of validating translated files for inclusion in an applicationbeing developed. In this case, the service provider can create,maintain, support, etc. a computer infrastructure that performs theprocess steps of the invention for one or more customers. In return, theservice provider can receive payment from the customer(s) under asubscription and/or fee agreement, and/or the service provider canreceive payment from the sale of advertising content to one or morethird parties.

The flowchart in FIGS. 2A-2B and the block diagrams in FIG. 1 and FIG. 7illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possibleimplementations of systems, methods, and computer program productsaccording to various embodiments of the present invention. In thisregard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent amodule, segment, or portion of code (e.g., program code 108, 110, 112),which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing thespecified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in somealternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occurout of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown insuccession may, in fact, be performed substantially concurrently, or theblocks may sometimes be performed in reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, and combinations ofblocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, can beimplemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform thespecified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

While embodiments of the present invention have been described hereinfor purposes of illustration, many modifications and changes will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claimsare intended to encompass all such modifications and changes as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of this invention.

1. A method of validating translated files for inclusion in anapplication being developed, the method comprising the steps of: acomputer sending a translatable file having externalized content in asingle base natural language to a plurality of other computers, whereinthe externalized content is external to code of the application beingdeveloped; in response to a generation of a first translated fileincluding a first translation of the externalized content into a naturallanguage other than the base natural language by another computerincluded in the plurality of other computers, the computer receiving thefirst translated file from the other computer; in a simulationenvironment, a processor of the computer simulating a loading of thefirst translation of the externalized content into a user interface ofthe application at a runtime of the application and simulating apresentation of the first translation of the externalized content in theuser interface at the runtime, by calling one or more functions includedin the application, without an actual presentation of the firsttranslation of the externalized content in the user interface, whereinan execution at the runtime of the one or more functions displays theexternalized content in the user interface; the computer determiningwhether the simulating of the loading of the first translation of theexternalized content into the user interface and the simulating of thepresentation of the first translation of the externalized content in theuser interface by the calling the one or more functions indicates anerror condition that causes the application to stop running at theruntime; based in part on the error condition being indicated by thesimulating of the loading of the first translation and the simulating ofthe presentation of the first translation, the computer: determining thefirst translation of the externalized content includes a syntax errorthat causes the error condition, and initiating a correction of thesyntax error by sending the report to the other computer, wherein thesyntax error includes at least one of: (1) a first key included in thefirst translated file is not matched with exactly one correspondingfirst value in the first translated file, the first translated filebeing a first property file including first key-value pairs includingthe first key and the first value as one of the pairs; (2) a second keyin the translatable file is not in the first translated file, thetranslatable file being a second property file including secondkey-value pairs, one of the second key-value pairs including the secondkey; and (3) one or more placeholders in the first translated file arenot matched to respective one or more placeholders in the translatablefile, the one or more placeholders in the first translated file and theone or more placeholders in the translatable file providing variablesubstitution by being filled in with actual values by the code of theapplication at the runtime; and in response to a receipt by the computerof a second translation of the externalized content which includes thecorrection of the syntax error, the second translation included in asecond translated file generated by the other computer: the computersimulating a loading of the second translation of the externalizedcontent into the user interface of the application at the runtime andsimulating a presentation of the second translation of the externalizedcontent in the user interface at the runtime, by calling the one or morefunctions; the computer determining whether the simulating of theloading of the second translation and the simulating of the presentationof the second translation by the calling the one or more functionsindicates the error condition that causes the application to stoprunning at the runtime; and based in part on the error condition notbeing indicated by the simulating of the loading of the secondtranslation and the simulating of the presentation of the secondtranslation, the computer at the runtime presenting the secondtranslation of the externalized content in the user interface withoutcausing the application to stop running at the runtime.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising the step of based in part on the errorcondition being indicated by the simulating of the loading of the firsttranslation and the simulating of the presentation of the firsttranslation, the computer generating a report including anidentification of a portion of the first translation of the externalizedcontent that includes the syntax error and an error message that isgenerated by the application at the runtime in response to the errorcondition, wherein the step of initiating the correction of the syntaxerror includes sending the report to the other computer.
 3. The methodof claim 1, wherein the steps of simulating the loading of the secondtranslation of the externalized content into the user interface of theapplication at the runtime, simulating the presentation of the secondtranslation of the externalized content, determining whether thesimulating of the loading of the second translation and the simulatingof the presentation of the second translation indicates the errorcondition that causes the application to stop running at the runtime,and presenting the second translation of the externalized content in theuser interface without causing the application to stop running at theruntime are performed based in part on the error condition beingindicated by the steps of simulating the loading of the firsttranslation and simulating of the presentation of the first translationand subsequent to a completion by the other computer of the correctionof the syntax error included in the first translation.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the steps of simulating the loading of the secondtranslation of the externalized content into the user interface of theapplication at the runtime and simulating the presentation of the secondtranslation of the externalized content in the user interface at theruntime are performed without an actual presentation of the secondtranslation of the externalized content in the user interface.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: the computerpresenting a graphical user interface (GUI) that displays entries of thefirst translated file in proximity to corresponding entries of thetranslatable file; the computer receiving and storing an identificationof a second error in the first translated file based on a comparison,via the GUI, of the entries of the first translated file against thecorresponding entries of the translatable file; the computer initiatinga correction of the second error by the other computer; and based inpart on a completion of the correction of the second error by the othercomputer and a generation by the other computer of the second translatefile which includes the correction of the second error, the computerreceiving the second translated file and validating the secondtranslated file by determining the second error is not included in thesecond translated file, wherein the step of presenting at the runtime ofthe second translation of the externalized content in the user interfaceis further based on the second error being determined to be not includedin the second translated file.
 6. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising the step of prior to the step of sending the translatablefile, the computer identifying and correcting one or more errors in thetranslatable file to conform to syntax rules of translation systemsrunning on the other computers.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising the steps of: subsequent to the step of receiving the firsttranslated file, the computer reformatting the first translated file toconform to requirements of the application; subsequent to the step ofreceiving the first translated file, the computer renaming the firsttranslated file with a unique corresponding file name consisting offirst, second and third portions, wherein the first portion of the filename indicates a language of the plurality of languages, the secondportion of the file name indicates a country of a plurality ofcountries, and the third portion of the file name indicates a region ofa plurality of regions, the region being within the country, and whereinthe country and the region within the country together specify a variantof the language; the computer generating a file structure; andsubsequent to the step of renaming, the computer storing the firsttranslated file in a portion of the file structure identified by thefirst, second and third portions of the file name.
 8. A computer programproduct, comprising: a computer readable memory; and a computer readableprogram code stored in the computer readable memory, the computerreadable program code containing instructions that are executed by acentral processing unit (CPU) of a computer system to implement a methodof validating translated files for inclusion in an application beingdeveloped, the method comprising the steps of: the computer systemsending a translatable file having externalized content in a single basenatural language to a plurality of other computer systems, wherein theexternalized content is external to code of the application beingdeveloped; in response to a generation of a first translated fileincluding a first translation of the externalized content into a naturallanguage other than the base natural language by another computer systemincluded in the plurality of other computer systems, the computer systemreceiving the first translated file from the other computer system; in asimulation environment, a processor of the computer system simulating aloading of the first translation of the externalized content into a userinterface of the application at a runtime of the application andsimulating a presentation of the first translation of the externalizedcontent in the user interface at the runtime, by calling one or morefunctions included in the application, without an actual presentation ofthe first translation of the externalized content in the user interface,wherein an execution at the runtime of the one or more functionsdisplays the externalized content in the user interface; the computersystem determining whether the simulating of the loading of the firsttranslation of the externalized content into the user interface and thesimulating of the presentation of the first translation of theexternalized content in the user interface by the calling the one ormore functions indicates an error condition that causes the applicationto stop running at the runtime; based in part on the error conditionbeing indicated by the simulating of the loading of the firsttranslation and the simulating of the presentation of the firsttranslation, the computer system: determining the first translation ofthe externalized content includes a syntax error that causes the errorcondition, and initiating a correction of the syntax error by sendingthe report to the other computer system, wherein the syntax errorincludes at least one of: (1) a first key included in the firsttranslated file is not matched with exactly one corresponding firstvalue in the first translated file, the first translated file being afirst property file including first key-value pairs including the firstkey and the first value as one of the pairs; (2) a second key in thetranslatable file is not in the first translated file, the translatablefile being a second property file including second key-value pairs, oneof the second key-value pairs including the second key; and (3) one ormore placeholders in the first translated file are not matched torespective one or more placeholders in the translatable file, the one ormore placeholders in the first translated file and the one or moreplaceholders in the translatable file providing variable substitution bybeing filled in with actual values by the code of the application at theruntime; and in response to a receipt by the computer system of a secondtranslation of the externalized content which includes the correction ofthe syntax error, the second translation included in a second translatedfile generated by the other computer system: the computer systemsimulating a loading of the second translation of the externalizedcontent into the user interface of the application at the runtime andsimulating a presentation of the second translation of the externalizedcontent in the user interface at the runtime, by calling the one or morefunctions; the computer system determining whether the simulating of theloading of the second translation and the simulating of the presentationof the second translation by the calling the one or more functionsindicates the error condition that causes the application to stoprunning at the runtime; and based in part on the error condition notbeing indicated by the simulating of the loading of the secondtranslation and the simulating of the presentation of the secondtranslation, the computer system at the runtime presenting the secondtranslation of the externalized content in the user interface withoutcausing the application to stop running at the runtime.
 9. The computerprogram product of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises thestep of based in part on the error condition being indicated by thesimulating of the loading of the first translation and the simulating ofthe presentation of the first translation, the computer systemgenerating a report including an identification of a portion of thefirst translation of the externalized content that includes the syntaxerror and an error message that is generated by the application at theruntime in response to the error condition, wherein the step ofinitiating the correction of the syntax error includes sending thereport to the other computer system.
 10. The computer program product ofclaim 8, wherein the steps of simulating the loading of the secondtranslation of the externalized content into the user interface of theapplication at the runtime, simulating the presentation of the secondtranslation of the externalized content, determining whether thesimulating of the loading of the second translation and the simulatingof the presentation of the second translation indicates the errorcondition that causes the application to stop running at the runtime,and presenting the second translation of the externalized content in theuser interface without causing the application to stop running at theruntime are performed based in part on the error condition beingindicated by the simulating of the loading of the first translation andthe simulating of the presentation of the first translation andsubsequent to a completion by the other computer system of thecorrection of the syntax error included in the first translation. 11.The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the steps of simulatingthe loading of the second translation of the externalized content intothe user interface of the application at the runtime and simulating thepresentation of the second translation of the externalized content inthe user interface at the runtime are performed without an actualpresentation of the second translation of the externalized content inthe user interface.
 12. The computer program product of claim 8, whereinthe method further comprises the steps of: the computer systempresenting a graphical user interface (GUI) that displays entries of thefirst translated file in proximity to corresponding entries of thetranslatable file; the computer system receiving and storing anidentification of a second error in the first translated file based on acomparison, via the GUI, of the entries of the first translated fileagainst the corresponding entries of the translatable file; the computersystem initiating a correction of the second error by the other computersystem; and based in part on a completion of the correction of thesecond error by the other computer system and a generation by the othercomputer system of the second translate file which includes thecorrection of the second error, the computer system receiving the secondtranslated file and validating the second translated file by determiningthe second error is not included in the second translated file, whereinthe step of presenting at the runtime of the second translation of theexternalized content in the user interface is further based on thesecond error being determined to be not included in the secondtranslated file.
 13. The computer program product of claim 8, whereinthe method further comprises the step of prior to the step of sendingthe translatable file, the computer system identifying and correctingone or more errors in the translatable file to conform to syntax rulesof translation systems running on the other computer systems.
 14. Thecomputer program product of claim 8, wherein the method furthercomprises the steps of: subsequent to the step of receiving the firsttranslated file, the computer system reformatting the first translatedfile to conform to requirements of the application; subsequent to thestep of receiving the first translated file, the computer systemrenaming the first translated file with a unique corresponding file nameconsisting of first, second and third portions, wherein the firstportion of the file name indicates a language of the plurality oflanguages, the second portion of the file name indicates a country of aplurality of countries, and the third portion of the file name indicatesa region of a plurality of regions, the region being within the country,and wherein the country and the region within the country togetherspecify a variant of the language; the computer system generating a filestructure; and subsequent to the step of renaming, the computer systemstoring the first translated file in a portion of the file structureidentified by the first, second and third portions of the file name. 15.A computer system comprising: a central processing unit (CPU); a memorycoupled to the CPU; a computer-readable, tangible storage device coupledto the CPU, the storage device containing instructions that are executedby the CPU via the memory to implement a method of validating translatedfiles for inclusion in an application being developed, wherein themethod comprises the steps of: the computer system sending atranslatable file having externalized content in a single base naturallanguage to a plurality of other computer systems, wherein theexternalized content is external to code of the application beingdeveloped; in response to a generation of a first translated fileincluding a first translation of the externalized content into a naturallanguage other than the base natural language by another computer systemincluded in the plurality of other computer systems, the computer systemreceiving the first translated file from the other computer system; in asimulation environment, a processor of the computer system simulating aloading of the first translation of the externalized content into a userinterface of the application at a runtime of the application andsimulating a presentation of the first translation of the externalizedcontent in the user interface at the runtime, by calling one or morefunctions included in the application, without an actual presentation ofthe first translation of the externalized content in the user interface,wherein an execution at the runtime of the one or more functionsdisplays the externalized content in the user interface; the computersystem determining whether the simulating of the loading of the firsttranslation of the externalized content into the user interface and thesimulating of the presentation of the first translation of theexternalized content in the user interface by the calling the one ormore functions indicates an error condition that causes the applicationto stop running at the runtime; based in part on the error conditionbeing indicated by the simulating of the loading of the firsttranslation and the simulating of the presentation of the firsttranslation, the computer system: determining the first translation ofthe externalized content includes a syntax error that causes the errorcondition, and initiating a correction of the syntax error by sendingthe report to the other computer system, wherein the syntax errorincludes at least one of: (1) a first key included in the firsttranslated file is not matched with exactly one corresponding firstvalue in the first translated file, the first translated file being afirst property file including first key-value pairs including the firstkey and the first value as one of the pairs; (2) a second key in thetranslatable file is not in the first translated file, the translatablefile being a second property file including second key-value pairs, oneof the second key-value pairs including the second key; and (3) one ormore placeholders in the first translated file are not matched torespective one or more placeholders in the translatable file, the one ormore placeholders in the first translated file and the one or moreplaceholders in the translatable file providing variable substitution bybeing filled in with actual values by the code of the application at theruntime; and in response to a receipt by the computer system of a secondtranslation of the externalized content which includes the correction ofthe syntax error, the second translation included in a second translatedfile generated by the other computer system: the computer systemsimulating a loading of the second translation of the externalizedcontent into the user interface of the application at the runtime andsimulating a presentation of the second translation of the externalizedcontent in the user interface at the runtime, by calling the one or morefunctions; the computer system determining whether the simulating of theloading of the second translation and the simulating of the presentationof the second translation by the calling the one or more functionsindicates the error condition that causes the application to stoprunning at the runtime; and based in part on the error condition notbeing indicated by the simulating of the loading of the secondtranslation and the simulating of the presentation of the secondtranslation, the computer system at the runtime presenting the secondtranslation of the externalized content in the user interface withoutcausing the application to stop running at the runtime.
 16. The computersystem of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises the step ofbased in part on the error condition being indicated by the simulatingof the loading of the first translation and the simulating of thepresentation of the first translation, the computer system generating areport including an identification of a portion of the first translationof the externalized content that includes the syntax error and an errormessage that is generated by the application at the runtime in responseto the error condition, wherein the step of initiating the correction ofthe syntax error includes sending the report to the other computersystem.
 17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the steps ofsimulating the loading of the second translation of the externalizedcontent into the user interface of the application at the runtime,simulating the presentation of the second translation of theexternalized content, determining whether the simulating of the loadingof the second translation and the simulating of the presentation of thesecond translation indicates the error condition that causes theapplication to stop running at the runtime, and presenting the secondtranslation of the externalized content in the user interface withoutcausing the application to stop running at the runtime are performedbased in part on the error condition being indicated by the simulatingof the loading of the first translation and the simulating of thepresentation of the first translation and subsequent to a completion bythe other computer system of the correction of the syntax error includedin the first translation.
 18. The computer system of claim 15, whereinthe steps of simulating the loading of the second translation of theexternalized content into the user interface of the application at theruntime and simulating the presentation of the second translation of theexternalized content in the user interface at the runtime are performedwithout an actual presentation of the second translation of theexternalized content in the user interface.
 19. The computer system ofclaim 15, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: thecomputer system presenting a graphical user interface (GUI) thatdisplays entries of the first translated file in proximity tocorresponding entries of the translatable file; the computer systemreceiving and storing an identification of a second error in the firsttranslated file based on a comparison, via the GUI, of the entries ofthe first translated file against the corresponding entries of thetranslatable file; the computer system initiating a correction of thesecond error by the other computer system; and based in part on acompletion of the correction of the second error by the other computersystem and a generation by the other computer system of the secondtranslate file which includes the correction of the second error, thecomputer system receiving the second translated file and validating thesecond translated file by determining the second error is not includedin the second translated file, wherein the step of presenting at theruntime of the second translation of the externalized content in theuser interface is further based on the second error being determined tobe not included in the second translated file.
 20. The computer systemof claim 15, wherein the method further comprises the step of prior tothe step of sending the translatable file, the computer systemidentifying and correcting one or more errors in the translatable fileto conform to syntax rules of translation systems running on the othercomputer systems.